In this week’s message, Pastor Mark encourages us to explore who our enemies might be—spiritual, relational/social, or political—and challenges listeners to identify those they might consider enemies in their lives. A testimony given by a member of Epikos demonstrates the transformative power of following Jesus’s command to love enemies. Pastor Mark provides practical guidance on loving enemies: first, write down their names and pray for their blessing (not just their repentance); second, avoid gossip and slander about them; and third, remember that God may be working in their lives in ways we don’t understand. He connects this challenging command to Jesus’s perfect example of love on the cross, where Christ loved and died for us while we were still his enemies, showing that the gospel is never too small to enable forgiveness and reconciliation.
Reflection Questions
- What stuck out in today’s message? What did you find challenging and encouraging? Did you learn anything new?
- Read Matthew 5:43-48 Why does Jesus use earthly allusions in verse 45? What does that say about the character of God?
- Beyond the expression of love, what else does Jesus call us to do for our enemies?
- Why does Jesus point out the “tax collectors” and the “Gentiles” in this passage? How would the original audience feel about these people groups and this teaching regarding them?
- Replace the word “perfect” in verse 48 with complete or whole. How does that enhance your understanding of what Jesus is saying at the culmination of these 6 case studies?
- Who in your life would you consider an enemy based on how you look down on them or react to them?
- Jesus challenges us to love and pray for people outside of our circle of comfort. Who are the people in your life who feel outside of that circle that would be a challenge to love? Why would loving them be difficult?
- Pastor Mark walked us through specific steps of application this week to pray and love our enemies:
- Write their names down
- Pray for their well-being (salvation, blessing)
- Reflect on your understanding of them: Have you listened and heard them? Do you hear their story and understand? Do you value “being right” to win a discussion with them more than really knowing them?
- Process with trusted friends, but be careful so that the conversation does not turn to gossip and slander. Be willing to call each other out if it does.
9. Take time this week to walk through these steps individually and share with your group/trusted friends what you learn about yourself and God.
